Member of ‘opioid bandits’ gang sentenced to eight years in prison for gunpoint pharmacy robberies

Share Post:

A member of a gang of four that robbed pharmacies at gunpoint for oxycodone pills in Mill Basin, Marine Park and East Flatbush was sentenced to more than eight years in prison on Jan. 25.

Gregory St. Juste of Flatbush, pleaded guilty nearly a year ago to robbery conspiracy and brandishing a firearm during a robbery for his role as one of the U.S. Attorney’s Office deemed the “opioid bandits” who committed a string of gunpoint robberies in August and September of 2016, striking fear into pharmacy employees and customers, and contributing to the opioid crisis in the borough.

“Gregory St. Juste and his co-conspirators caused employees and customers to fear for their lives during the armed robberies of the targeted pharmacies,” said U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Richard P. Donoghue. “Besides terrorizing his victims, the defendant stole oxycodone pills to resell on the street, contributing to the deadly opioid epidemic.”

Co-defendant Wensley Paul of Canarsie also pleaded guilty to identical charges and received a nine-year prison sentence. Max Narcisse, Jr and Jeff Roselien, both also of Canarsie, pleaded guilty to the same charges late last year, and are awaiting sentencing.

The men were accused of committing a string of robberies in 2016:

• On Aug. 16, two of the men entered the Mill Basin Pharmacy on Avenue T near E. 59th Street, drew a revolver, and took $4,000 worth of prescription pills and merchandise before escaping by a car driven by Roselien.

• On Sept. 8, St. Juste and others walked in to This Way Pharmacy on Quentin Road near E. 36th Street, pulled out a gun and stole oxycodone pills and cash before fleeing in a car driven by Roselien.

• On Sept. 13, St. Juste and two others went into went in to the Living Word Pharmacy on Utica Avenue near Snyder Avenue. St. Juste again drew a revolver and they took oxycodone pills, employees’ cell phones and cash, and fled in a car driven by Roselien.

• On Sept. 26, St. Juste, Paul and Narcisse, Jr. robbed the Mill Park Pharmacy on Avenue U near E. 66th Street. St. Juste pulled out a gun and threatened the clerk, Narcisse took cigarettes, cash, and other items, and Paul served as lookout. They then fled in a car driven by Roselien.

Police caught the four men when they saw Roselien’s car after the robbery on Sept. 26 and recognized it from the other robberies. Police pulled him over and found a stolen .45-caliber pistol, cash, and stolen merchandise when they searched the car.

Reach reporter Adam Lucente at alucente@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260â€“2511. Follow him on Twitter @Adam_Lucente.